How McLaren’s double disqualification has blown the title race wide open
27 November 2025Just when the 2025 Formula 1 Championship looked like it was heading towards a foregone conclusion, a dramatic twist in Las Vegas has teed up one of the most tantalising title fights in recent memory.
If the story of the early season was McLaren’s dominance, the story of the final act has been the resurgence of Max Verstappen, overhauling a deficit of over 100 points after Zandvoort to now sit just 24 behind Lando Norris.
Following the double disqualification for McLaren in Nevada, the cushion Norris had built himself, which would’ve seen him able to coast to the finish, has all but evaporated.
Suddenly, the question on everyone’s lips isn’t just "When will Lando win?" but rather, "Can Max Verstappen still win the F1 championship?"
As we prepare for the final two events in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, we look at how a season of domination has transformed into a fight going all the way down to the wire.
The turning point for Verstappen
The Las Vegas Grand Prix was supposed to be the moment Norris placed one hand on the Drivers’ title, but instead, the post-race technical checks resulted in a double DSQ that has reset the board with two events remaining.
Norris and Piastri taking a collective total of zero points away from the desert, combined with Verstappen’s imperious victory, means the reigning champion has slashed the deficit to be level pegging with Oscar and less than a race win away from the top of the standings.
The gap is now just 24 points, and with 58 points still on the table across the Qatar Sprint weekend and the Abu Dhabi finale, Max is a very real threat.
It’s not entirely in his hands, though. He’ll need to rely on more McLaren misfortune, or other drivers stealing points away from Lando.
At the very least, the Brit would need to finish fourth in one of the Grands Prix, third in the other, and second to Max in the Sprint. Even then, it would be decided in the Dutchman’s favour on countback.
Crucially, Verstappen has been here before; he knows the crushing pressure of an Abu Dhabi decider and has nothing to lose, having dragged the Red Bull back into contention through sheer force of will.
Can Lando hold his nerve?
Lando Norris remains in the driving seat. Sitting on 390 points, he is still in control of his own fate, but the momentum is arguably against him.
To retain his lead and secure his maiden title, Norris doesn’t need to win another race; he only needs to finish on the podium in the remaining two Grand Prix and the Sprint to become champion.
The goal for Lando in Qatar and Abu Dhabi is stability. He needs to finish immediately behind both Verstappen and Oscar Piastri as a minimum requirement. If he overdrives or makes unnecessary mistakes, he risks opening the door even further.
The Piastri predicament
Often the most composed driver in the paddock, Oscar Piastri has been a far cry from his early-season form in recent races. It’s not that he’s been flustered or out of his depth; he’s just not had the pace of Max or Lando since Zandvoort.
Tied on points with Verstappen (366), he is technically just as much a threat to Norris as the Red Bull driver is. His recent results say otherwise.
The last time Oscar stood on the podium was in Monza, and in those six events, he’s dropped 104 points to Max, with whom he is now tied on points.
Like Verstappen, Piastri needs more bad luck for Norris if he’s to take the title. Not only that, he needs to rediscover the pace he built his points lead with earlier in the season.
Will it go down to the wire?
There’s a real possibility that F1 will see its first Abu Dhabi decider since 2021. With the gap at 24 points and a Sprint weekend in Qatar offering a maximum haul of 34 points for a single driver, there’s greater opportunity for Lando to lose ground, keeping the fight alive until the final round.
At the same time, if Norris can deliver when it matters, it is mathematically possible for him to clinch it in Lusail, but, as all three contenders are so closely matched on race wins, countback comes into play. He’ll need to outscore both Piastri and Verstappen by at least two points to guarantee he takes the title in Qatar.
The final countdown
We are set for a thrilling final two rounds, whatever happens. Three drivers are separated by a margin smaller than a race win, and a Sprint Race only adds to the potential for drama.
F1 heads to the desert. The margins are razor-thin. The championship is far from over.
